Brake drum cooling and silencing device



Nov. 29, 1949 T. P. CHASE 2,489,522

BRAKE DRUM COOLING AND SILE'NGING DEVICE Filed Sept. 13, 1946 gmantua mama Nov- 29, 1949 2,489,522

Theron P. Chase, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Gen eral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1946, Serial No. 696,756

6 Claims. (Cl; 188-218) This invention relates to brakes and more particularly to cooling means for use with brake drums of vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a sort These vanes extend across the drum surface but are out of contact therewith. Another annular strip 2| forming a conical surface is supported by being united with the other ends of the vanes.

of fan to be mounted on the drum, the fan caus- There is thus provided an annular space between in an air circulation which is to cool the drum. the outer surface of the drum and the innermost Other objects include the attainment of the edges of the vanes. Air is free to flow into this major objective by a construction which is inannular space from which it passes through the expensive to manufacture and assemble. spaces between the vanes under the influence of On the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view the suction created by the vanes oi the fan. The of a portion of a brake drum in elevation as seen parts are inexpensive and so also is the assembly from line ll of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse on the drum. The air current effected by the section through the drum. fan as the drum rotates will serve to cool the Fig. 3 is a perspective of a part of the fan. drum by carrying away the heat caused by the Referring to the drawing by reference charl5 friction with the shoes. acters there is shown at 5 a fixed backing plate. Since the fan is resiliently mounted on the This plate overlaps the edge of the drum 1 at its drum, the fan will act as a silencer or damper of open end. The other end of the drum has sebrake drum vibrations. Vibration of the drum cured thereto an attaching plate 9. The drum during operation of the brakes often causes obmay be of cast iron and be secured to plate 9 jectionable noise. The fan considered as a mass when being cast. Plate 9 is to be secured to the will not vibrate in phase with the brake drum wheel in any usual way. The wheel and the bolts due to the resilient mounting. This out of phase by which the plate 9 is secured are not iliusvibration of the fan will produce a vibration trated for the reason that they form no part of damping or silencing eflect on the brake drum. the invention. I claim:

Also not shown are the provisions for anchor- 1. A brake drum having at one end thereof a ing the shoes, indicated by numeral ll, nor is radi lly pr je in flange. a fan comprising a there shown the wheel cylinder or other expandfirst part fitted snugly against the drum surface ing means by which the shoes are made to fricand its flange, a second annular part spaced from tionally engage the drum. the drum surface and adjacent the opposite end It is well known that the heat developed by of th drum and a plurality f van s supp r d the frictional engagement of the shoes with the by the first part and supporting the second part. drum is frequently excessive and various arrange- 2. The invention defined by claim 1, the outer ments have been suggested to radiate this heat. portion of the annular parts angularly related In accordance with my invention I plan to create to each other and to the radius of the drum.

a flow of air over and away from the drum sur- 3. The invention defined by claim 1, said first face, which will aid in carrying oil the excessive part having slots to facilitate a snug assembly on heat. To that end I mount on the drum what the drum.

may be called a cooling fan of the sirocco type. 4. A brake drum, an annular element, resilient It includes an annular strip of sheet metal I3. spring tongues attached to and extending in- The strip is angular in cross section with diverwardly from said annular element and engaging ging parts. When assembled on the drum its said brake drum to provide a vibration damper lower part, preferably slotted as shown at 15, and a fan attached to said annular element.

fits snugly on the outer surface of the drum and 5. A brake drum having a cylindrical surface against the flange I! as shown in Figure 2. The with a radialy projecting flange at one end, a fan, slots l5 increase the resilience of the lower curved resi ient spring means connected to the fan and part of strip l3. Thus the fan can be assembled resiliently clamping the cylindrical surface of on the drum with a snug fit regardless of small said drum and resiliently holding said fan in variations in drum and fan size, and the fan is contact with said flange to provide a vibration provided with a resilient mounting. damper.

Secured to the strip I: are a series of vanes ll.

6. A brake drum, a fan, resilient spring means some connected to said fan and resiliently engaging Number and clamping said drum toprovide a combined 1,833,413 vibration damper and drum cooling fan. 1,881,002 THE-RON P. CHASE. 1,928,079

. 5 2,021,369 REFERENCES CITED 2,131,614

' The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 254,561 Number Name Date I 481521 1,832,274 Baits NOV. 17, 1931 4 Name Date Chase Nov. 24, 1931 Udale Oct. 4, 1932 Taylor Sept. 26, 1933 Lyon Nov. 19, 1935 Chase Sept. 27, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 8, 1928 Germany Aug. 22, 1929 

